Folding square.



J. C. FULLMER.

FOLDING SQUARE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1913.

Patented Jun 30, 1914.

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JACOB C. FULLMER, OF MOLINE, ILLNOIS.

FOLDING SQUARE.

hiciese.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented J une 36?, 1914i.

Application filed .Tuly 23, 1913. Serial No. 780,75.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, JACOB C. FULLMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Squares, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a folding square for use by carpenters or other wood workers, the primary object being to provide a device of this character which includes an elongated, straight blade having linear scales inscribed thereon adjacent to its edges, and a pivoted arm provided at one end of the blade and adapted for angular adjustment in the plane of the same together with means by which the arm may be secured in its extended position at right angles to the blade or in its collapsed position in engagement with one of the longitudinal edges thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a square constructed in the manner described, wherein the securing means for the movable arm is adapted to allow for wear, so that the arm will be secured exactly at right angles to the blade, when in extended position, in a firm and secure manner.

A still further object is to provide a device of this class which is constructed in such a manner that it comprises the fewest possible number of parts, is simple in construction and compact when extended for use or when collapsed, land which may be operated readily and positively.

rl`he invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing the movable arm in its extended position; Fig. '2 is a similar view showing the arm folded against the blade of the device; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view on line aof Fig. 3; and, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the rectangular elongated blade of the square which is constructed preferably of steel and is graduated adjacent to its longitudinal edges so as to provide linear scales. This blade is provided at one of its ends with a longitudinal slot 3 disposed medially between its broad side faces. This slot opens through the side edges of the blade and adjacent to the end thereof, leaving one corner of the blade solid, however, at as L1. The side edge of the blade opposite to the corner i is cut away as at 5 for the snug reception of the shoulders 6 provided at the inner end of the movable arm 7, which latter' is provided upon this inner' end with a transverse reduced extension 8 which projects within the slot 3 of the blade. rlhe reduced arm extension 8 is pivotally connected to the blade by means of a transverse pivot pin 10, whereby the said arm is adapted for angular swinging movement with respect to the blade 1 and is adapted either to be extended into a position at right angles to the blade, as shown particularly in Fig. 1, or to be folded inwardly into engagement with the adjacent side edge of the blade.

The blade 1 is provided in one of its sides with a longitudinal slot 11 in communicat-ion with the slot 3 and with a recess 12 at the inner end of this slot. A locking tongue 13 constructed of some suitable resilient'imaterial, such as spring steel, has its inner end secured by means' of screws 14 or in any other suitable manner within the recess 12 so that it extends through the slot 11 with its free end portion laterally movgable therein. The locking tongue 13 is pro- 1lvided upon its inner face with a pair of 'longitudinally spaced locking projections 15 and 16, which are tapered so as to engage securely within the transverse openings 17 and 1S respectively in the reduced extension 8 of the movable tongue 3 when the said arm is in its extended position, as shown particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

A push button 19 is mounted for lateral movement within a recess 2O provided in the side face of the blade 1 opposite to the recess 12 and is connected with the locking tongue 13 by means of a pin 21, which latter is movable through a lateral opening 22 provided in communication with the recess 20. By means of this push button, the locking tongue may be forced outwardly in a manner which should be readily understood in order to release the movable arm 3. When the arm is released it may be swung inwardly into inoperative position in engagement with the adjacent edge of the blade 1, whereupon the locking projection 16 of the locking tongue will become engaged within the opening 17 so as to secure the movable arm in this position. As the locln'ng projections 15 and 16 are tapered, they will secure the movable arm rigidly in its extreme positions even though the openings become slightly enlarged due tov wear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A carpenters square including an elongated blade having a slot in one end thereof disposed medially between its flat sides, an arm pivotally mounted within the blade slot and having a reduced extension provided upon the pivoted end, said extension being disposed at right angles to said arm and having an opening therein disposed eccentrically with respect to the pivot, the said blade being provided with a side slot in communication with the end slot, a resilientloclring tongue secured at one end to the blade with its outer face normally flush with the corresponding face of the blade and having its free end portion movably mounted within the side slot, and a locking projection formed on the inner face of the locking tongue for engagement within the arm eX- tension opening when the arm is in its operative position.

2. A carpenters square including an elongated blade having a slot in one end thereof disposed medially between its Hat sides, an arm pivotally mounted within the blade slot and having a reduced extension provided upon the pivoted end, said extension being disposed at right angles to said arm and having an opening therein disposed eccentrically with respect to the pivot, the said blade being provided with a side slot in communication with the end slot, a resilient locking tongue secured at one end t0 the blade with its outer face normally iush with the corresponding face of the blade and having its free end portion movably mountposed at right angles to said arm and having an opening therein disposed eccentrically with respect to the pivot, the said blade being provided with a side slot in communication with the end slot, a resilient locking tongue secured at one end to the blade with its outer face normally flush with the corresponding face of the blade and having its free end portion movably mounted within the side slot, a locking projection formed on the inner face of the locking tongue for engagement within the arm extension opening when the arm is in its operative position, the blade being provided opposite to its side slot with an opening communicating with said side slot, and a push butt-on movably mounted within the said opening and being connected with the intermediate portion of the locking tongue, the said button having a iat outer face disposed normally Hush with the corresponding face of the blade.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB C. FULLMER. Witnesses:

CHARLES P. SKINNER, CLIFFORD E. SwiRN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o f I Paten'cs,

Washington, D. G. 

